Page 129 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Lucas is cooking? Should I be worried?"

Theo adjusted his glasses. "His culinary skills have improved by approximately forty-two percent since his first attempt three months ago. The probability of food poisoning has decreased significantly."

I laughed, remembering Lucas's disastrous first attempt at making pasta from scratch. "Well, that's reassuring." I began gathering my tools, placing them in their designated spots with the care they deserved. The routine was soothing – scissors in their holder, wire cutters in the drawer, ribbon scraps into the recycling bin.

Dakota moved beside me, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he helped clean up. We worked in comfortable silence, a rhythm we'd established over these past months. Where Theo analyzed and observed, Dakota simply did – anticipating needs without discussion, offering support without fanfare.

"I'll let Mia know she can start closing procedures," I said, glancing at the clock. "We're only fifteen minutes from closing anyway."

Theo checked his watch with precise movements. "Seventeen minutes and forty-three seconds, to be exact." I smiled at his specificity as I approached Mia, who was arranging a display of potted succulents near the window.

"Mia, would you mind starting the closing procedures? I'm heading out a little early today."

"No problem, boss," Mia replied with a bright smile, her purple-tipped hair bobbing as she nodded. "Jamie and I can handle it. You've been working nonstop all week—you deserve to leave early."

"Thank you," I said, grateful for her understanding. In the months since I'd hired her and Jamie, they'd become not just employees but friends who understood the occasional chaos that came with my new life.

I returned to where Dakota and Theo waited, gathering my purse from beneath the counter. "Ready when you are."

Dakota nodded, his hand coming to rest gently at the small of my back as we moved toward the door. The casual possessiveness of the gesture still sent a pleasant warmth through me, even after months together. Theo held the door, his analytical eyes scanning the street beyond with habitual vigilance before allowing us to pass through.

The crisp autumn air greeted us as we stepped outside, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and the promise of cooler days ahead. I took a deep breath, savoring the transition from the flower-scented shop to the natural outdoor scents.

"The temperature has dropped three degrees since this morning," Theo observed, immediately shrugging out of his jacket and offering it to me. "You'll need this."

I accepted it with a grateful smile, wrapping the still-warm fabric around my shoulders. It carried his scent—clean, with hints of cedar and something uniquely Theo that I'd come to associate with safety.

"The car is parked around the corner," Dakota said, his dark eyes continuing to scan our surroundings with habitual vigilance. Four months had passed since Blackwood's arrest, the whole company was now shut down. Blackwood was now in prison awaiting trial, with overwhelming evidence against him. The nightmare was over, at least in practical terms, though sometimes I still woke in the night, heart racing until I felt the protective presence of whichever Alpha was sharing my bed that night.

We walked together toward Dakota's SUV, the three of us moving in easy synchronization that had developed naturally over time. As we rounded the corner, I spotted the familiar black vehicle parked precisely in a spot that offered optimal visibility in all directions—a security habit none of them had fully abandoned despite the reduced threat level.

"I received a text from Gabriel," Theo announced, checking his phone as Dakota unlocked the car. "The security upgrades at the main house are complete. The new system exceeds military-grade specifications by approximately twenty-seven percent."

I smiled, sliding into the passenger seat as Dakota held the door for me. "Tell him that's wonderful, but I still think the security system we had before was perfectly adequate."

"Statistical analysis indicates otherwise," Theo countered, settling into the backseat. "The previous system contained multiple vulnerabilities that could have been exploited by a determined intruder with sufficient technical expertise."

Dakota's lips curved slightly as he started the engine. "They'll never stop protecting you," he said, his deep voice carrying a note of approval. "None of us will."

I reached across to squeeze his hand briefly. "I know. And I'm grateful. I just don't want you all to keep living in crisis mode forever." I turned slightly to include Theo in the conversation. "The danger is over. We can breathe now."

"Vigilance and peace can coexist," Theo observed thoughtfully. "One enables the other."

I smiled, settling back in my seat as Dakota navigated the familiar route toward the house—our house now, I smiled, settling back in my seat as Dakota navigated the familiar route toward the house—our house now, in ways both practical and emotional. The sprawling property that had once felt overwhelming now felt like home, each room holding memories of moments shared with all four Alphas who had changed my life so completely.

As we drove, I watched the familiar landmarks pass by—the park where Lucas had taken me for a picnic on our first official date, the café where Theo and I often met for quiet afternoons of reading together, the trail entrance where Dakota had taught me about tracking and wilderness survival.

"You're smiling," Dakota observed, his deep voice gentle as his eyes briefly met mine before returning to the road.

"Just thinking about how much has changed," I admitted, watching the autumn leaves dance across the road ahead of us.

"Four months ago, I was running a shop that was barely staying afloat, living in constant fear, and convinced I'd spend my life alone," I continued, watching the familiar landscape pass by. "And now..."

"Your business has expanded by thirty-seven percent," Theo offered from the backseat, "and your personal happiness metrics have shown a statistically significant improvement of approximately sixty-three percent, based on observable indicators."

I laughed, glancing back at him. "Is that your scientific way of saying I seem happier?"

"Precisely," Theo confirmed, adjusting his glasses with a small smile. "Though the quantification provides helpful context."

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